Separator foot



J. A. ATZERT' 1,737,401

SEPARATOR FOOT Nov. 26, 1929;

Filed April 16 1928 i mmmnmuulmuu wnmzss as INVENTOR\ Patented Nov. 26, 1929 UNETE JOSEPH ATZERT, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 'TO MTLLER SAVV- TRIMMER COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENILYSYLVANIA A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVAN IA SEPARATO R FOOT Application filed April 16, 1928. Serial No. 270,248.

My invention pertains to pneumatic separator feet, particularly for use wlth automatic machines for feeding sheets of paper, cards and the like, and relates especially to separator feet of the general type illustrated in Patent No. 1,194,327 granted August 8, 1916, on the application of Edward Cheshire, which depend for their action upon the formation of a space between the first and sec-' ond sheets of a pile of sheets, into which space air can flow.

In separator feet of the above character, as heretofore constructed, it has been found desirable to provide two or more different feet, or sets of feet, for use with different grades of paper or cards to be separated, it having been found advisable and possible to buckle the lighter grades of paper to a greater extent than the heavier grades, or cards, and

thereby create a greater space between the top and second sheets. It is an object of my invention to provide a separator foot which will be universal in this respect, and which, by a simple adjustment, will enable a greater or lesser buckle to be put into the top sheet, according to the requirements of the particular grade of stock being handled. It is another object of my invention so to construct such an universal foot that it will be simple and economical of manufacture, and easy to use effectively.

I have described, by way of example, in the following specification, and shown in the accompanying drawings, a separator foot constructed in accordance with my invention.

1 wish it understood, however, that my invention may be embodied 1n other forms, and

changes may be made in the form described.

and shown, without exceeding the scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a separator foot constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on the line l= of Fig. 2, looking in the'direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawing, the separator foot is made to descend upon the pile of stock to be separated, so asto engage the top sheet adjacent an edge of the pile, whereupon suction is applied to the foot, so that the top sheet adheres to the latter, when it-is raised again. To this end, the separator foot ber 14L having a thumb piece 15 by which it can be conveniently operated. In attaching the separator foot to the separator bar 10, the block 12 is placed on the bar from below, and the latch member 14 turned by means of the thumb piece 15 :so as to engage upon the top of the separator bar, and thereby secure the separator foot in place.

The under face of the block 12 is formed with a depression 16 which extends nearly across the block at the front part of the -latter and, being V-sh'aped, tapers :rearwardly so as to disappear at a point somewhat in front of the back of the block The depression 16 also tapers from a substantial height at the front of the block to nothing at the apex of the V. This-shape approximates that which would be taken by an effective buckle 'put'into the sheet from the edge of the latter inwardly.

The block 12 is formed wit-ha boss 17 into which is threaded a tube 18 on the upper end of which is mounted a rubber hose, or the like, 19 for connection with a valve and suitable source-of suction. The boss 17,and the adjacent part ofthe block 12, is hollowed out at 20 to receive a suction cup 21, of rubber or the like, which is'moun'ted upon the lower end of the tube 1 8. It will be seen that, by turning the threaded tube 18 in one direction or the other, the'suction cup 21 can be made to project downward to a greater or lesser extent into the depression 16. During such adjustment of the tube 18, the hose 19 is preferably held'stationary, tates within the hose. Thus the hose will retain the tube in position, after the latter has once been adjusted. r I

Where cards, or heavy sheets, are to be separated, the. tube 18 is adjusted so that the cup2l reaches down close to the top sheet of the pile; so that such top sheet isonly buckled slightly, and sometimes not at all. With sheets of a very light grade, the tube 18 is adjusted so that the cup is a material distance above the top sheet of the pile. ,In that event, the top sheet is drawn up .to the cup, to which it attaches itself securely, and

a very material buckle is formed between the top and second sheets, as is desirable when light stocks are being separated. For intermediate stocks the tube 18 is adjusted to an intermediate extent. 7

The separator foot of my invention is very eifective in accurately separating stocks of widely different grades, and the adjustment 'to effect this is very easy and simple to perform. If, during the running of the machine, there is found to be a tendency to separate two sheets at a time, the operator will slightly rotate the tube 18, so as to raise the cup 21, until this tendency disappears. If, on the other hand, there seems to be a tendency of the separator foot to miss a sheet, instead of properlyseparating it, the, operator, will slightly rotate thetube 18 in the other direction, until the tendency disappears.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A separator foot comprising a block having a depression formed in the under face thereof, and a suction member associated with said block and adjustable so as to project to a varying extent into said depression, whereby the buckling effect of said member upon the sheet may be varied.

2. A separator foot comprising a block hav- I ing a substantially V-shaped depression formed in the under face thereof, with the wider end adjacent the front of the foot, and a suction member associated with said block and adjustable vertically with respectthereto, so as to cause the said member to project to a varying extent into said depression.

3. A separator foot'comprising a block having a substantially V-shaped depression formed in the under face thereof, with the wider end adjacent the front of the foot, said depression tapering rearwardly, a suction member associated with said block and disposed so as to enter said depression, and means for adjusting said suction member so as to cause the latter to enter said depression to a varying extent.

JOSEPHA. ATZERT.

so that the, tube ro- 

